The growing purchase of liquefied natural gas from Russia by European nations has sparked concerns that the move could backfire on the European Union. Observers warn that Moscow could wield energy exports as leverage if Europe needs to accumulate stockpiles for the colder months ahead. This perspective is reported by the American edition of Politico.
Data from Bruegel, a prominent European analytical center, show that European buyers imported a total of 19.2 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG by the end of 2022. This marked a 35 percent increase from 2021, when the EU bought 14.2 billion cubic meters. In the year just past, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium were the leading LNG importers from Russia, highlighting a region-wide dependency pattern that arouses concern among policymakers and energy experts.
Analysts emphasize that President Putin could restrict shipments to countries perceived as antagonistic while continuing to supply poorer nations facing acute energy shortages. For Europe, the pattern risks evolving into a strategic trap as it seeks to bolster reserves for the approaching winter. The situation suggests a potential scenario where gas supplies could be used as political pressure in times of need, complicating energy planning across the continent. The material notes that European dependence on Russian LNG could translate into a bargaining tool at moments when secure energy access matters most. Ongoing debates focus on diversification, storage strategies, and the resilience of the European energy market in the face of external pressure.
According to RIA Novosti reporting, based on calculations from Eurostat, European Union expenditures on liquefied and piped gas rose dramatically in the previous year. EU spending increased from 62.5 billion euros to 208 billion euros in the first twelve months of 2022, underscoring a substantial shift in energy procurement costs as the bloc sought to secure reliable gas supplies from global markets. The data illuminate the scale of changes in energy markets and the financial impact on member states as they navigate supply disruptions, price volatility, and the imperative to maintain strategic reserves. [Source: Bruegel; Eurostat data; accompanying analyses by RIA Novosti]